Method, apparatus, and system for paging user equipment

ABSTRACT

A method, an apparatus, and a system for paging a User Equipment (UE) are provided. The method for paging a UE includes: sending a downlink data notification message inclusive of paging range indicator information to a core network control plane entity; receiving a paging message sent by the core network control plane entity and inclusive of a raging range; and initiating a paging to a UE corresponding to a user ID in the paging range. The apparatus for paging a UE includes: a first sending module, a first receiving module, and a paging initiating module. A system for paging a UE is further provided. With the method, apparatus, and system for paging a UE, the UE can be paged in only a set paging range.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/294,720, filed on Nov. 11, 2011, which is a continuation ofInternational Patent Application No. PCT/CN2009/071788, filed on May 13,2009. The afore-mentioned patent applications are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of communicationtechnologies, and in particular, to a method, an apparatus, and a systemfor paging a User Equipment (UE).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the fast development of network technologies, the Internet accesstechnology is improved constantly. To satisfy personalized requirementsof different user groups, a Home NodeB emerges in a communicationsystem. Being a kind of NodeB, the HNB is autonomously deployed inplaces such as homes, organizations, companies, or schools for exclusiveuse, and serves some specific users. The HNB may be set to allow onlyUEs with private network rights to reside or access; meanwhile, theseUEs may also reside or access public networks. The home access(homeaccess) mode is a new access mode being researched currently.

The home access mode connects a user equipment (User Equipment, UE forshort) to a mobile network through a universal Internet Protocol (IP)access network by using an HNB and licensed spectrums. The licensedspectrum may include spectrums in multiple networks, for example,spectrums used in networks such as a UMTS Terrestrial Radio AccessNetwork (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network, UTRAN for short), anEvolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (Evolved UMTS TerrestrialRadio Access Network, E-UTRAN for short), a Code Division MultipleAccess (Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA for short) network, aWorldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access, Wimax for short) network, aWireless Local Area Network (Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN forshort), and a High Rate Packet Data (High Rate Packet Data, HRPD forshort) network.

The HNB set in the home network generally needs to pass through a HomeGate Way (Home Gate Way, Home GW for short) before accessing the IPnetwork. The Home GW aggregates HNBs and has functions such as routingand forwarding of signaling and data between HNBs and network elementsin the mobile network, bearer management on a backhaul(backhaul) network(such as a digital subscriber line), Quality of Service (Quality ofService, QoS for short) management, and Network Address Translation.Logically, the HGW and the HNB are different network entities, and maybe implemented by a same physical entity in specific physicalimplementation.

An Home Node B(Home Nobe B, HNB for short) Gate Way(Gate Way, GW), aHome evolved NodeB (Home evolved NodeB, HeNB for short) GW, and a Homenon-3GPP WAP GW(Home non-3GPP WAP GW) are GWs of HNBs respectivelyconnected to the HNB, HeNB, and Home non-3GPP WAP GW through theuniversal IP access network.

Mobility management elements include: a Mobility Management Entity(Mobility Management Entity, MME for short) in an E-UTRAN, a ServingGPRS Support Node (Serving GPRS Supporting Node, SGSN for short) in aGPRS/UMTS network, and a non-3GPP GW(non-3GPP GW) of a non-3GPP networkfor accessing a 3GPP network, for example, an Evolved Packet DataGateway (Evolved Packet Data Gateway, EPDG for short) in a WLAN, anAccess Service Network Gateway (Access Service Network Gateway, ASN GWfor short) in a Wimax network, an Access Gateway (Access Gateway, AGWfor short) in a CDMA network, and an HRPD Serving Gateway (HRPD ServingGateway, HSGW for short) in an HRPD network.

In an existing 3G network, an HNB integrates functions of a RadioNetwork Controller (Radio Network Controller, RNC for short), an NB, anda Gateway GPRS Support Node (Gateway GPRS Supporting Node, GGSN forshort), and can implement local routing. The data routed from the corenetwork of a mobile operator enters a service network through an HNB GWand a GGSN; the data locally routed enters a home network through anintegrated GGSN function; and the data locally routed and destined forthe Internet enters the Internet through a broadband access network. Ina local routing solution for an HNB in an enhanced packet network, toimplement local routing of user data, the HNB (for the 3G accesstechnology, the HNB integrates functions of the RNC and NB; for theevolved UMTS access technology, the HNB is an HeNB) further integratesfunctions of a Serving Gateway (Serving Gateway, S-GW for short) and aPacket Data Network Gateway (Packet Data Network Gateway, P-GW forshort). The data routed from the core network of a mobile operatorenters a service network, for example, an IMS and Internet, through anHNB (or HeNB) GW and a P-GW; the data locally routed enters the homenetwork through the integrated P-GW function; and the data locallyrouted and destined for the Internet is sent to the Internet through abroadcast access network. The S-GW integrated in the HNB/HeNB serves alluser plane data. In another local routing solution for an HNB in theenhanced packet network, to implement local routing of user data, theHNB (for the 3G access technology, the HNB integrates functions of theRNC and NB; for the evolved UMTS access technology, the HNB is an HeNB)further integrates functions of an S-GW and a P-GW. The data routed fromthe core network of a mobile operator enters a service network, forexample, an IMS and Internet, through an HNB (or HeNB) GW and an S-GWand a P-GW of the core network; the data locally routed enters the homenetwork through the S-GW and P-GW functions integrated in the HNB; andthe data locally routed and destined for the Internet is sent to theInternet through a broadcast access network. The S-GW of the corenetwork in the architecture serves the user plane data that enters andleaves the P-GW of the core network of the operator. The S-GW integratedin the HNB/HeNB serves the user plane data locally routed. In a thirdlocal routing solution for an HNB in the enhanced packet network, toimplement local routing of user data, the HNB (for the 3G accesstechnology, the HNB integrates functions of the RNC and NB; for theevolved UMTS access technology, the HNB is an HeNB) integrates functionsof a P-GW. The data routed from the core network of a mobile operatorenters a service network, for example, an IMS and Internet, through anHNB (or HeNB) GW and an S-GW and a P-GW of the core network; the datalocally routed enters the home network through the P-GW functionsintegrated in the HNB; and the data locally routed and destined for theInternet is sent to the Internet through a broadcast access network. TheS-GW of the core network in the architecture serves the user plane datathat enters and leaves the P-GW of the core network of the operator. TheS-GW of the core network provides only services of sending downlink datanotifications to a core network control plane entity and triggeringpaging for the locally routed data.

During the implementation of the present invention, the inventor findsat least the following problem in the prior art: In the technicalsolutions of the prior art, the paging range of the UE cannot becontrolled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, anda system for paging a UE, so as to page the UE in a set paging range.

To achieve the above objective, a method for paging a UE provided in anembodiment of the present invention includes sending a downlink datanotification message inclusive of paging range indicator information toa core network control plane entity; receiving a paging message sent bythe core network control plane entity and inclusive of a raging range;and initiating a paging to a UE corresponding to a user ID in the pagingrange.

An apparatus for paging a UE provided in an embodiment of the presentinvention includes a first sending module, configured to send a downlinkdata notification message inclusive of paging range indicatorinformation to a core network control plane entity; a first receivingmodule, configured to receive a paging message sent by the core networkcontrol plane entity and inclusive of a raging range; and a paginginitiating module, configured to initiate a paging to a UE correspondingto a user ID in the paging range.

An apparatus for paging a UE provided in an embodiment of the presentinvention includes a second receiving module, configured to receive adownlink data notification message inclusive of paging range indicatorinformation; a paging message generating module, configured to generatea paging message inclusive of a paging range according to the pagingrange indicator information; and a second sending module, configured tosend the paging message inclusive of the paging range to an HNB.

A system for paging a UE provided in an embodiment of the presentinvention includes an HNB and a core network control plane entity. TheHNB is configured to send a downlink data notification message inclusiveof paging range indicator information to the core network control planeentity, receive a paging message sent by the core network control planeentity and inclusive of a paging range, and initiate a paging to a UEcorresponding to a user ID in the paging range. The core network controlplane entity is configured to generate the paging message inclusive ofthe paging range according to the downlink data notification message andsend the paging message to the HNB.

By using the method, apparatus, and system for paging a UE according toembodiments of the present invention, a downlink data notificationmessage inclusive of paging indicator information is sent to a corenetwork control plane entity, and a paging message inclusive of a pagingrange and a user ID is received from the core network control planeentity, so that a paging is initiated to the UE in the set paging range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of a method for paginga UE according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structure diagram of a first embodiment of anapparatus for paging a UE according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structure diagram of a second embodiment of anapparatus for paging a UE according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic structure diagram of an embodiment of a system forpaging a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a first embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a second embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a third embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a fourth embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a fifth embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of a sixth embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is hereinafter described in detail with referenceto embodiments and accompanying drawings.

The HNB in embodiments of the present invention may be an HNB or anHeNB. FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 1, the method includes the following steps:

Step 101: Send a downlink data notification message inclusive of pagingrange indicator information to a core network control plane entity.Specifically, this step may be as follows: The HNB or HNB GW sends adownlink data notification message to the core network control planeentity when receiving downlink data, where, if the HNB receives downlinkdata, the downlink data notification message sent by the HNB may be sentto the HNB GW first and then the HNB GW sends the downlink datanotification message to the core network control plane entity; the HNBmay also send the downlink data notification message to the core networkcontrol plane entity directly, in this case, the IP packet of themessage may not pass through the HNB GW, or the IP packet of the messagemay pass through the HNB GW, and the HNB GW then transmits the messageto the core network control plane entity transparently; when the HNB isconnected to the core network control plane entity through the HNB GWbut the HNB sends the downlink data notification message to the corenetwork control plane entity directly, the downlink data notificationmessage may further carry an ID or address of the HNB GW connected tothe HNB, and the core network control plane entity may use theinformation to determine the HNB GW to which a paging message needs tobe sent. The paging range indicator information may include pagingindicator information and the paging range determined by the HNB or HNBGW.

Step 102: Receive a paging message including a paging range sent by thecore network control plane entity. The paging range is a range of NBswhich is needed to page the UE, and the paging message may be sent toonly the NBs in the paging range. Accordingly, if the HNB GW is deployedin the network, the HNB GW to which the paging message needs to be sentmay be determined. A user ID may be used to determine the UE to bepaged.

In a way different from step 101, the paging range may also bedetermined by the core network control plane entity according to thestored ID or address of the HNB or HNB GW where the UE resides,initiates a service, or updates the location area (the location area maybe a routing area and/or a tracking area) last time; in this case, thepaging indicator information in the downlink data notification messagesent by the HNB or HNB GW to the core network control plane entity doesnot need to carry the ID or address of the HNB or HNB GW, and thedownlink data notification may also not carry paging indicatorinformation. The UE is paged in only one HNB connected to the HNB GW.After determining the HNB GW, the core network control plane entitysends the paging message carrying the ID or address of the HNB to theHNB GW, and the HNB GW sends the paging message to the correspondingHNB; in other embodiments of the present invention, the core networkcontrol plane entity may also determine the paging range according tothe stored ID or address of the HNB or HNB GW where the UE in theconnected state resides last time.

Step 103: Initiate a paging to the UE corresponding to the user ID inthe paging range. In this step, the UE may be determined by using a userID.

In this embodiment, a downlink data notification message inclusive ofpaging indicator information is sent to the core network control planeentity, and a paging message sent to the specific paging range isreceived from the core network control plane entity, so that the UE canbe paged in the specific paging range.

The paging indicator information in the above embodiment of the presentinvention may be obtained by analyzing the source address information,destination address, and service type of a downlink packet, the AccessPoint Name (APN) of the PDN of the downlink data source, the P-GW of thedownlink data source or other data descriptions, and is used to indicatethe range of the paging, for example, the ID of an HNB or HNB GW, wherethe ID may also be an IP address. That is, the paging indicatorinformation is obtained in step 101, and the paging range is determinedaccording to the paging indicator information and is sent to the corenetwork control plane entity through the downlink data notificationmessage. Specifically, the above data description information mayindicate that the downlink packet is routed by the P-GW integrated inthe HNB or the P-GW of the core network to the HNB.

In addition, the source address information, destination address, datatype description, and service type of the downlink packet, the APN ofthe PDN of the downlink data source (the address or ID of the P-GWconnected to the PDN may also be included), and the ID or address of theHNB or HNB GW may be sent to the core network control plane entity aspaging indicator information; after receiving the downlink datanotification message, the core network control plane entity obtains thepaging range indicator information and determines the paging rangeaccording to the paging range indicator information. If the HNB GW isconfigured in the network, the HNB receives the downlink data, and thedownlink data notification message sent by the HNB and inclusive ofpaging indicator information may be sent to the core network controlplane entity directly, or may also be sent to the HNB GW first and thensent by the HNB GW to the core network control plane entity. The pagingindicator information sent by the HNB GW to the core network controlplane entity may be the original information sent by the HNB, or mayalso be regenerated by the HNB GW according to the paging indicatorinformation sent by the HNB. If the paging indicator information sent bythe HNB does not include the ID of the HNB, the paging indicatorinformation sent by the HNB GW to the core network control plane entitymay also include the ID of the HNB that is added by the HNB GW.

In step 101 above, if the downlink data notification message carries noavailable user ID but includes the destination address of the downlinkdata because the HNB does not store UE context, the process may furtherinclude the following step: The core network control plane entity or HNBGW searches for and obtains the stored context information of the UEaccording to the destination address or other information in the pagingindicator carried in the downlink data notification message, where thecontext information includes the user ID. When obtaining the contextinformation of the UE fails, the core network control plane entity sendsa paging error message inclusive of the destination address to the HNBGW or HNB.

The paging message in step 102 above includes the paging range. Thepaging range may be differentiated by the ID of the HNB, ClosedSubscriber Group (CSG) list information of the UE, or user registrationarea information explicitly, or may be implicit descriptions about thenotified paging range sent by the core network control plane entity, forexample, indicating that the paging message is sent to only the HNB thatsends the downlink data notification message, and the paging messageneeds to include one or more of the above items.

Step 102 may be specifically as follows: The HNB receives the pagingmessage that is generated and sent by the core network control planeentity according to the downlink data notification message and pagingindicator information carried therein and includes the user ID. Thiscase is applicable to the scenario where no HNB GW is available in thenetwork and the HNB and the core network control plane entity areconnected directly. If the HNB GW is deployed in the network, and theHNB receives the paging message sent by the HNB GW and inclusive of theuser ID, the paging message may be generated according to the downlinkdata notification message and the paging indicator information and sentby the core network control plane entity to the HNB GW, and include thepaging range (HNB ID) and user ID, and the HNB GW is only responsiblefor sending the paging message to the corresponding NB; the pagingmessage may also be sent by the HNB GW to the corresponding NB after theHNB GW determines the paged NB according to the paging message which issent by the core network control plane entity and includes the pagingrange indicator.

When the HNB GW forwards the paging message, further, the process may bespecifically as follows: The HNB GW determines, according to the userregistration area information and/or CSG list information, the HNB to bepaged and sends the paging message; or the HNB GW sends the pagingmessage to the HNB indicated by the HNB ID; or the HNB GW sends thepaging message to the HNB where the UE in the connected state isattached lately in the range controlled by the HNB GW.

In addition, after initiating a paging to the UE corresponding to theuser ID in the paging range, if the paging response of the UE is notreceived within a preset period of time, the core network control planeentity determines that the paging range is the user registration area,sends the paging message to all NBs within the UE registration area, andpages the UE.

In addition, after initiating a paging to the UE corresponding to theuser ID in the paging range in step 103, if the NB where the UE respondsto the paging is different from the NB that receives the downlink data,the NB that receives the downlink data forwards the downlink data to theNB where the UE responds to the paging.

When the UE responds to the paging and the core network control planeentity sends an initial UE bearer request message to the NB, the corenetwork control plane entity may establish only part of bearers of a PDNconnection, where the PDN connection is the PDN connection that sendsthe downlink data notification message; the core network control planeentity determines the paging range according to the APN carried in thepaging indicator information in the downlink data notification message.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structure diagram of the first embodiment of anapparatus for paging a UE according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus 1 for paging a UE includesa first sending module 11, a first receiving module 12, and a paginginitiating module 13. The first sending module 11 is configured to senda downlink data notification message sent by a core network controlplane entity and inclusive of paging indicator information. The firstreceiving module 12 is configured to receive a paging message sent bythe core network control plane entity and inclusive of a paging range.The paging initiating module 13 is configured to initiate a paging tothe UE corresponding to a user ID in the paging range.

The apparatus for paging a UE according to this embodiment sends adownlink data notification message inclusive of paging indicatorinformation, and receives a paging message sent by the core networkcontrol plane entity and inclusive of a paging range, so that the pagingrange of the UE can be controlled.

The first sending module and the first receiving module may be set inthe HNB or HNB GW, and the paging initiating module is usually set inthe HNB.

The first sending module in the embodiment above includes an informationobtaining unit, a first determining unit, and a sending unit. Theinformation obtaining unit is configured to obtain paging indicatorinformation, where the paging indicator information includes at leastone of the source address information of a downlink packet, destinationaddress of the downlink packet, service type of the downlink packet, APNof the PDN of the downlink data source, and P-GW of the downlink datasource. The first determining unit is configured to determine the pagingrange according to the paging indicator information. The sending unit isconfigured to send the paging range to the core network control planeentity by carrying the paging range in the paging indicator information.

The apparatus for paging a UE in the above embodiment of the presentinvention may be set in the HNB or HNB GW. An embodiment of the presentinvention further provides an apparatus for paging a UE. FIG. 3 is aschematic structure diagram of the second embodiment of an apparatus forpaging a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 3, the apparatus includes a second receiving module 21, apaging message generating module 22, and a second sending module 23. Thesecond receiving module 21 is configured to receive a downlink datanotification message inclusive of paging range indicator information.The paging message generating module 22 is configured to generate apaging message inclusive of a paging range according to the paging rangeindicator information. The second sending module 23 is configured tosend the paging message inclusive of the paging range to the HNB.

The apparatus for paging a UE according to the embodiment of the presentinvention can determine a paging range according to a received downlinkdata notification message inclusive of paging range indicatorinformation, and send a paging message inclusive of a paging range, thuscontrolling the paging range of the UE.

The paging message generating module in the above embodiment of thepresent invention may include an obtaining unit and a second determiningunit. The obtaining unit is configured to obtain paging indicatorinformation in the paging range indicator information in the downlinkdata notification message, where the paging indicator informationincludes at least one of the source address information of a downlinkpacket, destination address of the downlink packet, service type of thedownlink packet, APN of the PDN of the downlink data source, and P-GW ofthe downlink data source. The second determining unit is configured todetermine, according to the paging indicator information, that thedownlink data comes from the HNB or core network, generate a pagingmessage indicating the paging range is the HNB or user registrationarea, and send the paging message to the second sending module 23.

In addition, when the paging message includes the downlink data sourceinformation, the paging message generating module includes a thirddetermining unit. The third determining unit is configured to: when thesecond determining unit determines that the downlink data comes from theHNB, determine that the paging range is the HNB according to the HNB IDof the HNB or HNB GW ID included in the paging indicator information, ordetermine, according to the context information of the UE, the HNB ID ofthe HNB that the UE is/was attached to, determine that the paging rangeis the HNB according to the HNB ID, and send the paging messageinclusive of the paging range to the second sending module; or the thirddetermining unit is further configured to: when the second determiningunit determines that the downlink data comes from the core network,determine that the paging range is the user registration area, and sendthe paging message inclusive of the paging range to the second sendingmodule.

In addition, the apparatus for paging a UE according to the aboveembodiment of the present invention may further include a pagingrecovering module. The paging recovering module is configured to: afterthe paging initiating module initiates a paging to the UE correspondingto the user ID in the paging range, if no paging response of the UE isreceived within a preset period of time, determine that the paging rangeis the user registration area, and page the UE in the user registrationarea.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a system forpaging a UE. FIG. 4 is a schematic structure diagram of an embodiment ofa system for paging a UE according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG4, the system includes an HNB 31 and a corenetwork control plane entity 32. The HNB 31 is configured to send adownlink data notification message inclusive of paging range indicatorinformation to the core network control plane entity, receive a pagingmessage sent by the core network control plane entity and inclusive of apaging range, and initiate a paging to a UE corresponding to a user IDin the paging range. The core network control plane entity 32 isconfigured to generate the paging message inclusive of the paging rangeaccording to the downlink data notification message and send the pagingmessage.

In the system for paging a UE according to this embodiment, the downlinkdata notification message sent by the HNB to the core network controlplane entity includes paging range indicator information, and the pagingrange can be determined according to the paging indicator information inthe paging range indicator information. Thereby, the UE can be paged ina certain range, system resources are saved, and system loads arereduced.

In addition, the system for paging a UE may further include an HNB GW33, which is configured to forward the downlink data notificationmessage sent by the HNB to the core network user plane control entity,and after receiving the paging message sent by the core network controlplane entity and inclusive of the paging range, send the paging messageto the HNB in the paging range.

In addition, the above HNB GW may determine the paging range.Specifically, the HNB GW obtains paging indicator information, where thepaging indicator information includes at least one of the source addressinformation of a downlink packet, destination address of the downlinkpacket, service type of the downlink packet, APN of the PDN of thedownlink data source, and P-GW of the downlink data source; and then theHNB GW determines the paging range according to the paging indicatorinformation, and sends the paging range to the core network controlplane entity by carrying the paging range in the paging range indicatorinformation.

In addition, the paging range in this embodiment may also be determinedby the HNB. When the paging range is determined by the HNB, the HNBobtains paging range information, where the paging range informationincludes at least one of the source address information of the downlinkpacket, destination address of the downlink packet, service type of thedownlink packet, APN of the PDN of the downlink data source, and P-GW ofthe downlink data source; and then the HNB determines the paging rangeaccording to the paging indicator information, and sends the pagingrange to the core network control plane entity by carrying the pagingrange in the paging range indicator information.

When the paging range is determined by the core network control planeentity, the core network control plane entity receives the downlink datanotification message, obtains the paging indicator information, anddetermines the paging range according to the paging indicatorinformation, where the paging indicator information includes at leastone of the source address information of the downlink packet,destination address of the downlink packet, service type of the downlinkpacket, APN of the PDN of the downlink data source, and P-GW of thedownlink data source.

In addition, the above core network control plane entity may beconfigured to send the paging message to all NBs in the UE registrationarea when no paging response of the UE is received within a presetperiod of time; if the UE responds to the paging in other NBs than theHNB that receives the downlink data, the core network control planeentity needs to instruct the HNB to forward the downlink data to the NBthat receives the paging response of the UE.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of the first embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, the HNB integrates an S-GW; when the UE resides on the HNB,all user data passes through the S-GW of the HNB; when the downlink dataof the UE arrives at the HNB, the HNB judges whether the downlink datacomes from the core network of a mobile operator or is locally routedfrom the home network; if the data comes from the home network, the HNBmay further determine, according to the source address of the data,whether the data comes from other devices of the home network or fromthe Internet. As shown in FIG. 5, the method includes the followingsteps:

Step 201: The HNB sends a downlink data notification message inclusiveof paging indicator information to the HNB GW. When no HNB GW isdeployed in the system, the HNB may send the downlink data notificationmessage to the core network control plane entity directly, that is, skipstep 202. In the system architecture of this embodiment, a complete S4(for the HNB)/S11 (for the HeNB) interface may exist between the HNB andthe core network control plane entity. Through a transaction associationcontext of the interface, the UE may be determined between the HNB andthe core network control plane entity. The downlink data notificationmessage may carry paging indicator information used for indicating thepaging range.

The paging range in the above paging indicator information may beobtained by the S-GW in the HNB according to information such as thesource address and destination address of a packet, or information aboutwhether the downlink packet is sent from the HNB or the P-GW of the corenetwork, or the APN (namely, the ID of the PDN connection) correspondingto the downlink packet. For example, if the downlink packet is sent fromthe P-GW of the HNB, the paging indicator information indicates a pagingin only the HNB, and in this case, carries an HNB ID; if the downlinkpacket is sent from the P-GW of the core network, the paging indicatorinformation indicates a paging in a macro NB in the range indicated bythe user registration area information, HNBs in open and hybrid accessmodes, and all HNBs in the CSG white list of the user. The pagingindicator information may also be the source address and destinationaddress of the downlink data, or data type, APN, service type, APN ofthe PDN of the data source, information about whether the downlink datais sent from the P-GW of the core network or the P-GW integrated in theHNB, or HNB ID or address. If the HNB is connected to the core networkcontrol plane entity through the HNB GW, but the HNB sends the downlinkdata notification message to the core network control plane entitydirectly, the paging indicator information may further include the ID oraddress of the HNB GW. All embodiments of the present invention complywith this principle. The HNB GW or core network control plane entitydetermines the paging range. In addition, when an incomplete S4 (for theHNB)/S11 (for the HeNB) interface exists between the HNB and the corenetwork control plane entity, the downlink data notification message mayfurther carry a user ID.

Optionally, the HNB determines the paging range according to the pagingindicator information, and sends the paging range and the pagingindicator information to the HNB GW or core network control planeentity.

Step 202: The HNB GW sends a downlink data notification message to thecore network control plane entity, notifying that downlink data arrives.If the message includes paging indicator information, an HNB ID, and auser ID, the HNB GW may carry the information in the downlink datanotification message when sending the message to the core networkcontrol plane entity. If the downlink data notification message sentfrom the HNB carries no HNB ID, the HNB GW may determine the HNB IDaccording to the interface context of the HNB, and add the HNB ID to thedownlink data notification message when sending the message to the corenetwork control plane entity. If the Home GW may decide whether toinitiate a paging in only the HNB and decide to initiate a paging in thenormal area without performing paging optimization, the downlink datanotification message sent by the HNB GW to the core network controlplane entity may not carry paging indicator information.

Optionally, the HNB GW determines the paging range according to thepaging indicator information, and sends the paging range and the pagingindicator information to the HNB GW or core network control planeentity.

After receiving a downlink data notification response message sent bythe core network control plane entity, the HNB GW sends a downlink datanotification response message to the HNB, where the message may be sentout immediately after the HNB GW receives the downlink data notificationmessage.

Step 203: The core network control plane entity generates a pagingmessage inclusive of a paging range and a user ID. After receiving thedownlink data notification message, the core network control planeentity searches for the stored context information of the user, anddetermines the paging range according to the paging indicatorinformation, HNB ID, user ID, APN, network configuration, operatorpolicy, and service continuity of local routing subscribed by the user.If the paging range is the HNB, the core network control plane entitydetermines that the paging message is sent to only the HNB or HNB GWthat sends the downlink data notification message for triggering thepaging.

When the core network control plane entity receives the downlink datanotification message correctly, the core network control plane entitymay send a downlink data notification response message.

Step 204: If the HNB GW is deployed in the network, the core networkcontrol plane entity sends the paging message to the HNB GW (if thedownlink data notification message is sent by the HNB to the corenetwork control plane entity directly, the HNB is found according to theID or address of the HNB GW carried in the paging indicator information,and the same applies to all the embodiments of the present invention)determined in step 703, where the message carries user ID information.If the paging range is the HNB, the message may further carry an HNB IDor carry information indicating that the paging message is sent to onlythe HNB where the downlink data arrives. According to the ID of the HNBto which the user is attached lately, the core network control planeentity may send the paging message to the HNB GW connected to the HNB,where the ID of the HNB is stored in the UE context, and the UE contextmay include an ID of the HNB GW. If no HNB GW is deployed in thenetwork, the paging message is directly sent to the HNB, and step 205 isskipped.

Step 205: After receiving the paging message, the HNB GW sends a pagingmessage to the controlled HNB. If the paging message carries an HNB ID,the HNB GW sends a paging message to only the HNB indicated by the HNBID. If the paging message carries an indicator to indicate that thepaging is sent to only the HNB where the downlink data arrives, the HNBGW determines, according to the user ID and context information, the HNBwhere the downlink data arrives, and sends the paging message to onlythe HNB.

Step 206: The HNB that receives the paging message initiates a paging tothe UE corresponding to the user ID.

Step 207: After receiving the paging, the UE initiates a service requestto respond to the paging. In this step, if the UE does not respond tothe paging within a period of time, the core network control planeentity may initiate PDN connection deactivation to release the PDNconnection of the local route.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of the second embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, inthis embodiment, the HNB integrates an S-GW; when the UE resides on theHNB, all user data passes through the S-GW of the HNB; when the downlinkdata of the UE arrives at the HNB, the HNB judges whether the downlinkdata comes from the core network of a mobile operator or is locallyrouted from the home network; if the data comes from the home network,the HNB may further determine, according to the source address of thedata, whether the data comes from other devices of the home network orfrom the Internet. The method includes the following steps:

Step 301: The HNB sends a downlink data notification message inclusiveof paging indicator information to the HNB GW. When no HNB GW isdeployed in the system, the HNB may send the downlink data notificationmessage to the core network control plane entity directly, that is, skipstep 302.

In the system architecture of this embodiment, a complete S4 (for theHNB)/S11 (for the HeNB) interface may exist between the HNB and the corenetwork control plane entity. Through a transaction association contextof the interface, the UE may be determined between the HNB and the corenetwork control plane entity. The downlink data notification message maycarry paging indicator information used for indicating the paging range,and may further carry an HNB ID.

The paging range in the above paging indicator information may beobtained by the S-GW in the HNB according to information such as thesource address and destination address of a packet, or information aboutwhether the downlink packet is sent from the HNB or the P-GW of the corenetwork, where the downlink packet corresponds to the APN, a connectionbearer ID of the PDN connection. For example, if the downlink packet issent from the P-GW of the HNB, the paging indicator informationindicates a paging in only the HNB; if the downlink packet is sent fromthe P-GW of the core network, the paging indicator information indicatesa paging in a macro NB in the range indicated by the user registrationarea information, HNBs in open and hybrid access modes, and all HNBs inthe CSG white list of the user. The paging range information mayindicate only the source address and destination address of the downlinkdata, or data type, and the HNB GW or core network control plane entitydetermines the paging range. In addition, when an incomplete S4 (for theHNB)/S11 (for the HeNB) interface exists between the HNB and the corenetwork control plane entity, the downlink data notification message mayfurther carry a user ID.

Optionally, the HNB determines the paging range according to the pagingindicator information, and sends the paging range and the pagingindicator information to the HNB GW or core network control planeentity.

Step 302: The HNB GW sends a downlink data notification message to thecore network control plane entity, notifying that downlink data arrives,where the downlink data notification message may include pagingindicator information, an HNB ID, and a user ID. If the downlink datanotification message sent from the HNB carries no HNB ID, the HNB GW maydetermine the HNB ID according to the interface context of the HNB, andadd the HNB ID to the downlink data notification message when sendingthe message to the core network control plane entity. According todifferent implementation solutions, if the HNB GW may decide whether toinitiate a paging only in the HNB, the downlink data notificationmessage sent by the HNB GW to the core network control plane entity maynot carry paging indicator information.

Optionally, the HNB GW determines the paging range according to thepaging indicator information, and sends the paging range and the pagingindicator information to the HNB GW or core network control planeentity.

In addition, when the core network control plane entity receives thedownlink data notification message correctly, the core network controlplane entity may send a downlink data notification response message tothe HNB GW.

After receiving the downlink data notification response message sent bythe core network control plane entity, the HNB GW sends a downlink datanotification response message to the HNB, where the message may be sentout immediately after the HNB GW receives the downlink data notificationmessage.

Step 303: After receiving the downlink data notification message, thecore network control plane entity searches for the stored contextinformation of the UE, paging indicator information, HNB ID, and user IDaccording to the destination address of the above downlink data and UEID, and determines the paging range. If the paging range is the HNB, thecore network control plane entity determines that a paging message issent to only the HNB or HNB GW that sends the downlink data notificationmessage for triggering the paging.

Step 304: If the HNB GW is deployed in the network, the core networkcontrol plane entity sends a paging message to the HNB GW, where themessage carries user ID information. If the paging range is the HNB, themessage needs to further carry an HNB ID. According to the ID of the HNBto which the user is attached lately, the core network control planeentity may send the paging message to the HNB GW connected to the HNB,where the ID of the HNB is stored in the UE context, and the UE contextmay include an ID of the HNB GW. If no HNB GW is deployed in thenetwork, the paging is directly sent to the HNB, and step 305 isskipped.

Step 305: After receiving the paging message, the HNB GW sends a pagingmessage to the controlled HNB. If the paging message carries an HNB ID,the HNB GW sends a paging message to the HNB indicated by the HNB ID; ifthe paging message carries an indicator to indicate that the paging issent to only the HNB where the downlink data arrives, the HNB GWdetermines, according to the user ID and context information, the HNBwhere the downlink data arrives, and sends the paging message to theHNB.

Step 306: The HNB that receives the paging message initiates a paging tothe UE corresponding to the user ID.

If the paging message is sent to a specified HNB or all HNBs controlledby the HNB GW are paged, and the UE does not respond to the pagingwithin a period of time, that is, the timer set by the core networkcontrol plane entity expires, the core network control plane entity maydecide to perform a paging in a macro NB in the range indicated by theuser registration area information, HNBs in open and hybrid accessmodes, and all HNBs in the CSG white list of the user. The timer mayalso be set in the HNB. If no paging response is received after thetimer in the HNB expires, the HNB initiates a downlink data notificationmessage to the core network control plane entity or HNB GW again, wherethe message may carry indicator information indicating a paging in thewhole user registration area or carry indicator information indicatingthat no UE paging response is received; the HNB GW forwards the downlinkdata notification message to the core network control plane entity,instructing the core network control plane entity to perform a paging inall NBs in the user registration area. The timer may also be set in theHNB GW. If no paging response is received after the timer expires, theHNB GW initiates a downlink data notification message to the corenetwork control plane entity, where the message carries paging indicatorinformation instructing the core network control plane entity to performa paging in the user registration area.

If the UE responds to the paging in other NBs, and the core networkmanagement entity selects a new S-GW and updates the PDN connection pathin the core network, the core network control plane entity may notifythe HNB, and instruct the HNB whether to forward the downlink data tothe S-GW in the HNB where the UE responds to the paging or the S-GW ofthe core network. Or the HNB decides to discard data or responds to thecore network control plane entity to decide to forward data. After dataforwarding is complete, if service continuity of local routing does notneed to be reserved, the network may initiate deactivation of the PDNconnection of the local route. If all downlink data sources are locallyrouted, and the service continuity of local routing does not need to bereserved, the network may also decide not to forward data, and thenetwork initiates deactivation of the PDN connection of the local route.

Step 307: After receiving the paging, the UE initiates a service requestto respond to the paging.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of the third embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, inthis embodiment, the HNB integrates an S-GW; when the UE resides on theHNB, all user data passes through the S-GW of the HNB; when the downlinkdata of the UE arrives at the HNB, the HNB judges whether the downlinkdata comes from the core network of a mobile operator or is locallyrouted from the home network; if the data comes from the home network,the HNB may further determine, according to the source address of thedata, whether the data comes from other devices of the home network orfrom the Internet. The method includes the following steps:

Steps 401 and 402 in this embodiment are the same as steps 301 and 302in the above embodiment.

Step 403: After receiving the downlink data notification message, thecore network control plane entity searches for the stored contextinformation of the UE according to the paging indicator information, HNBID, and user ID, and determines the paging range.

The core network control plane entity may determine that the pagingrange is the user registration area according to UE subscription, APNand other network configurations, and information which indicates thatthe data source is core network data and that the data type isemergency.

If the paging range is a user registration area, the core networkcontrol plane entity determines to generate a paging message to be sentto the devices such as the macro NB, HNB, or HNB GW in the userregistration area.

Step 404: The core network control plane entity sends the paging messageto the devices such as the macro NB, HNB, or HNB GW in the userregistration area, where the message carries user ID information.

Step 405: After receiving the paging message, the HNB GW sends a pagingmessage to all controlled HNBs.

Step 406: The HNB that receives the paging message initiates a paging tothe UE corresponding to the user ID, and similarly, the macro NB thatreceives the paging message also initiates a paging.

Step 407: After receiving the paging, the UE initiates a service requestto respond to the paging.

If the user responds to the paging in the HNB where the downlink dataarrives, the core network control plane entity notifies the HNB to sendthe cached downlink data to the user.

If the user responds to the paging in other NBs, the core networkcontrol plane entity may notify the HNB and instruct the HNB to forwardthe data to the NB where the user responds to the paging. Or accordingto the cached data source or bearer QoS, the HNB decides to discard dataor responds to the core network control plane entity to decide toforward data.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of the fourth embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to the present invention. In this embodiment, anS-GW is set in both the HNB and the core network (for the UMIS HNB, thecorresponding core network control plane entity is an SGSN, and if theUMTS HNB accesses the LTE core network, the control plane entity on theUMTS HNB is an S-GW); when the UE resides on the HNB, the user datalocally routed passes through the S-GW/P-GW on the HNB; the core networkdata passes through the S-GW/UMTS in the core network. In thisembodiment, the downlink user data arrives at the HNB, and the HNBlearns that the data is locally routed from the home network, and maydetermine, according to the source address of the data, whether the datacomes from other devices of the home network or from the Internet. Asshown in FIG. 8, the method includes the following steps:

Step 501: The HNB sends a downlink data notification message inclusiveof paging indicator information to the HNB GW. When no HNB GW isdeployed in the system, the HNB may send the downlink data notificationmessage to the core network control plane entity directly, that is, skipstep 502. In this step, complete Gn (HNB)/S4 (HNB)/S11 (HeNB) interfaceprotocol stacks may exist between the HNB and the core network controlplane entity. Through a transaction association context of theinterface, the UE may be determined between the HNB and the core networkcontrol plane entity. The downlink data notification message may carrythe HNB ID. If an incomplete Gn (HNB)/S4 (HNB)/S11 (HeNB) interfaceprotocol stack exists between the HNB and the core network control planeentity, the downlink data notification message may further carry a userID.

Step 502: The HNB GW sends a downlink data notification message to thecore network control plane entity. If the downlink data notificationmessage includes an HNB ID and a user ID, the HNB GW may carry theinformation in the downlink data notification message when sending themessage to the core network control plane entity. If the downlink datanotification message sent from the HNB carries no HNB ID, the HNB GW maydetermine the HNB ID according to the interface context of the HNB, andadd the HNB ID to the downlink data notification message when sendingthe message to the core network control plane entity.

In addition, when the core network control plane entity receives thedownlink data notification message correctly, the core network controlplane entity may send a downlink data notification response message tothe HNB GW.

After receiving the downlink data notification response message sent bythe core network control plane entity, the HNB GW sends a downlink datanotification response message to the HNB, where the message may be sentout immediately after the HNB GW receives the downlink data notificationmessage.

Step 503: After receiving the downlink data notification message, thecore network control plane entity finds the stored context informationof the UE according to the HNB ID and user ID, and determines the pagingrange.

If the paging range is the HNB, the core network control plane entitydetermines that a paging message is sent to only the HNB or HNB GW thatsends the downlink data notification message for triggering the paging,and the core network control plane entity generates a paging messagecarrying user ID information.

Step 504 (optional): If the HNB GW is deployed in the network, the corenetwork control plane entity sends a paging message to the HNB GW, wherethe message carries user ID information. If the paging range is the HNB,the message needs to further carry an HNB ID. According to the ID of theHNB to which the user is attached lately, the core network control planeentity may send the paging message to the HNB GW connected to the HNB,where the ID of the HNB is stored in the UE context, and the UE contextmay include an ID of the HNB GW. If no HNB GW is deployed in thenetwork, the paging is directly sent to the HNB, and step 505 isskipped.

Step 505: After receiving the paging message, the HNB GW sends a pagingmessage to the controlled HNB. If the paging message carries an HNB ID,the HNB GW sends a paging message to only the HNB indicated by the HNBID.

Step 506: The HNB that receives the paging message initiates a paging.

Step 507: After receiving the paging, the UE initiates a service requestto respond to the paging.

If the UE does not respond to the paging within a period of time, thecore network control plane entity may initiate PDN connectiondeactivation to release the PDN connection of the local route.

In addition, in step 506 of the above embodiment, if the paging isinitiated to the specified HNB or all HNBs controlled by the HNB GW arepaged, and the UE does not respond to the paging within a period oftime, the core network control plane entity may further continue toinitiate a paging in a macro NB in the range indicated by the userregistration area information, HNBs in open and hybrid access modes, andall HNBs in the CSG white list of the user.

If the NB where the UE responds to the paging is not the HNB thatreceives the downlink data, the core network control plane entity maynotify the HNB that receives the above downlink data, and instruct theHNB to forward the data to the NB where the UE responds to the paging.Or the HNB decides to discard the data or responds to the core networkcontrol plane entity to decide to forward the data; after dataforwarding is complete, the network initiates deactivation of the PDNconnection of the local route and the PDN connection carrying the corenetwork data continues to use the S-GW in the core network. The networkmay also decide not to forward the data. The network initiatesdeactivation of the PDN connection of the local route, and the PDNconnection carrying the core network data continues to use the S-GW/SGSNin the core network.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of the fifth embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to the present invention. In this embodiment, anS-GW is set in both the HNB and the core network (for the UMTS HNB, thecorresponding core network control plane entity is an SGSN, and if theUMTS HNB accesses the LTE core network, the control plane entity on theUMTS HNB is an S-GW); when the UE resides on the HNB, the user datalocally routed passes through the S-GW/SGSN on the HNB; the core networkdata passes through the S-GW/SGSN in the core network. In thisembodiment, the downlink user data arrives at the HNB, and the HNBlearns that the data is locally routed from the home network, and maydetermine, according to the source address of the data, whether the datacomes from other devices of the home network or from the Internet. Asshown in FIG. 9, the method includes the following steps:

Steps 601 and 602 in this embodiment are the same as steps 501 and 502in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

Step 603: After receiving the downlink data notification message, thecore network control plane entity finds the stored context informationof the user according to the HNB ID and user ID, and determines thepaging range.

The core network control plane entity may determine that the pagingrange is the user registration area according to user subscription, APNand other network configurations, and information which indicates thatthe data source is core network data and that the data type isemergency.

If the paging range is a user registration area, the core networkcontrol plane entity determines that a paging message is sent to thedevices such as the macro NB, HNB, or HNB GW in the user registrationarea, and therefore generates a paging message to be sent to the userregistration area.

Step 604: The core network control plane entity sends the paging messageto the devices such as the macro NB, HNB, or HNB GW in the userregistration area, where the message carries user ID information.

Step 605: After receiving the paging message, the HNB GW sends a pagingmessage to all controlled HNBs.

Step 606: The HNB that receives the paging message initiates a paging,and similarly, the macro NB that receives the paging message alsoinitiates a paging.

Step 607: After receiving the paging, the UE initiates a service requestto respond to the paging.

If the UE responds to the paging in the HNB where the downlink dataarrives, the core network control plane entity notifies the HNB to sendthe cached downlink data to the UE.

If the UE responds to the paging in other NBs, the core network controlplane entity may notify the HNB and instruct the HNB to forward the datato the NB where the user responds to the paging. Or according to thecached data source or bearer QoS, the HNB decides to discard data orresponds to the core network control plane entity to decide to forwarddata.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of the sixth embodiment of a method forpaging a UE according to the present invention. In this embodiment, theHNB is not integrated with an S-GW; when the UE resides on the HNB, alluser data passes through the P-GW integrated in the HNB and is sent tothe HNB directly; when the downlink data of the UE arrives at the P-GWof the HNB, the P-GW of the HNB sends the data to the S-GW of the corenetwork. The S-GW of the core network judges, according to the P-GW ofthe downlink data source and connection port, whether the downlink datacomes from the core network of a mobile operator or is locally routedfrom the home network; if the downlink data comes from the home network,the S-GW of the core network may further determine, according to thesource address of the data, whether the downlink data comes from otherdevices of the home network or from the Internet. The S-GW of the corenetwork may judge, according to the downlink data source, whether tosend a downlink data notification to the core network control planeentity. The downlink data notification sent by the S-GW of the corenetwork to the core network control plane entity may carry the pagingindicator information generated by the S-GW. The core network controlplane entity decides, according to the paging indicator information,user subscription, operator configuration, and APN, whether to send apaging message to the HNB or HNB GW. As shown in FIG. 10, the methodincludes the following steps:

Step 701: The HNB sends downlink data to the S-GW of the core network.In the system architecture of this embodiment, a complete S5 interfacemay exist between the HNB and the core network control plane entity.Through a transaction association context of the interface, the UE maybe determined between the HNB and the core network control plane entity.The P-GW integrated in the HNB may carry the paging indicatorinformation used to indicate a paging range when, before, or aftersending the downlink data to the S-GW, where the paging indicator maycarry an HNB ID or address, and may further carry a HNB GW ID or addressif an HNB GW is deployed in the network.

The paging range in the above paging indicator information may beobtained by the P-GW in the HNB according to information such as thesource address and destination address of a packet, or the APN (namely,the ID of the PDN connection) corresponding to the downlink packet. Whenan incomplete S5 interface exists between the HNB and the S-GW of thecore network, the P-GW integrated in the HNB may further carry a user IDwhen sending the downlink data.

Optionally, the HNB determines the paging range according to the pagingindicator information, and sends the paging range and the pagingindicator information to the HNB GW or core network control planeentity.

Step 702: The S-GW of the core network sends a downlink datanotification message to the core network control plane entity, notifyingthat downlink data arrives, where the message may include pagingindicator information and a user ID.

The paging range may be obtained by the S-GW of the core networkaccording to information such as the source address and destinationaddress of the packet included in the above paging indicatorinformation, or information about whether the downlink packet is sentfrom the HNB or the P-GW of the core network, or the APN (namely, the IDof the PDN connection) corresponding to the downlink packet. Forexample, if the downlink packet is sent from the P-GW of the HNB, thepaging indicator information indicates a paging in only the HNBs in openand hybrid access modes in the user registration area and all HNBs inthe CSG white list of the user. If the downlink packet is sent from theP-GW of the core network, the paging indicator information indicates apaging in a macro NB in the range indicated by the user registrationarea information, HNBs in open and hybrid access modes, and all HNBs inthe CSG white list of the user. The paging indicator information mayalso include at least one of the following: the source address anddestination address of the downlink data, data type, APN, service type,APN of the PDN of the data source, and information about whether thedownlink data is sent from the P-GW of the core network or the P-GWintegrated in the HNB. If the HNB is connected to the core networkcontrol plane entity through the HNB GW, but the HNB sends the ID oraddress of the HNB, or the ID or address of the HNB GW to the S-GW ofthe core network, the paging indicator information needs to furtherinclude the ID or address of the HNB, or the ID or address of the GNBGW. The S-GW of the core network may also obtain the address of the HNBor HNB GW from the IP link. All the information may be sent to the corenetwork control plane entity as paging indicator information.

The core network control plane entity sends a downlink data notificationresponse message to the S-GW of the core network.

Step 703: The core network control plane entity generates a pagingmessage inclusive of a paging range and a user ID. After receiving thedownlink data notification message, the core network control planeentity searches for the stored context information of the user, anddetermines the paging range by using at least one of the following asthe paging range indicator: the paging indicator information, HNB ID,user ID, APN, network configuration, operator policy, and servicecontinuity of local routing subscribed by the user.

If the paging range is the HNB, no HNB GW is deployed in the network,and the core network control plane entity obtains the ID or address ofthe HNB from the S-GW, the core network control plane entity determinesthat the paging message may be sent to only the HNB that sends thedownlink data notification message for triggering the paging. If thepaging range is the HNB, an HNB GW is deployed in the network, and thecore network control plane entity obtains the ID or address of the HNBGW from the S-GW, the core network control plane entity determines thatthe paging message may be sent to only the HNB GW that sends thedownlink data notification message for triggering the paging. If thepaging range is the HNB, an HNB GW is deployed in the network, and thecore network control plane entity obtains IDs or addresses of the HNBand HNB GW from the S-GW, the core network control plane entitydetermines that the paging message may be sent to only the HNB GW thatsends the downlink data notification message for triggering the paging,where the downlink data notification message carries an ID or address ofthe HNB. If the paging range is the HNB, an HNB GW is deployed in thenetwork, and the core network control plane entity obtains no IDs oraddresses of the HNB and HNB GW from the S-GW, the core network controlplane entity determines that the paging message is sent to the HNBs inopen and hybrid access modes in the user registration area and all HNBsin the CSG white list of the user to page the user.

Step 704: If the HNB GW is deployed in the network, the core networkcontrol plane entity sends the paging message to the HNB GW (if thedownlink data notification message is sent by the HNB to the corenetwork control plane entity directly, the HNB is found according to theID or address of the HNB GW carried in the paging indicator information)determined in step 703, where the message carries user ID information.If the paging range is the HNB, but no specific ID or address of the HNBis available, the message may further carry a user registration arealist and a CSG white list of the user and indicates a paging in all HNBsin open and hybrid access modes in the above area. According to the IDof the HNB to which the user is attached lately, the core networkcontrol plane entity may send the paging message to the HNB GW connectedto the HNB, where the ID of the HNB is stored in the UE context, and theUE context may include an ID of the HNB GW. If no HNB GW is deployed inthe network, the paging is directly sent to the HNB, and step 705 isskipped.

Step 705: After receiving the paging message, the HNB GW sends a pagingmessage to the controlled HNB. If the paging message carries an HNB ID,the HNB GW sends a paging message to only the HNB indicated by the HNBID. If the paging message carries an indicator to indicate that thepaging message is sent to only the HNB where the downlink data arrives,the HNB GW determines, according to the user ID and context information,the HNB where the downlink data arrives, and sends the paging message toonly the NB.

Step 706: The HNB that receives the paging message initiates a paging tothe UE corresponding to the user ID.

Step 707: After receiving the paging, the UE initiates a service requestto respond to the paging. In this step, if the UE does not respond tothe paging within a period of time, the core network control planeentity may initiate PDN connection deactivation to release the PDNconnection of the local route.

If the user subscription, operator policy or configuration, and PDNconnection sending the user data support service continuity of localrouting, and the paging message is sent to a specified HNB or all HNBscontrolled by the HNB GW are paged, and the UE does not respond to thepaging within a period of time, that is, the timer set by the corenetwork control plane entity expires, the core network control planeentity may decide to perform a paging in a macro NB in the rangeindicated by the user registration area information, HNBs in open andhybrid access modes, and all HNBs in the CSG white list of the user. Thetimer may also be set in the HNB. If no paging response is receivedafter the timer in the HNB expires, the HNB initiates a downlink datanotification message to the core network control plane entity or HNB GWagain, where the message may carry indicator information indicating apaging in the whole user registration area or carry indicatorinformation indicating that no UE paging response is received; the HNBGW forwards the downlink data notification message to the core networkcontrol plane entity, instructing the core network control plane entityto perform a paging in all NBs in the user registration area. The timermay also be set in the HNB GW. If no paging response is received afterthe timer expires, the HNB GW initiates a downlink data notificationmessage to the core network control plane entity, where the messagecarries paging indicator information instructing the core networkcontrol plane entity to perform a paging in the user registration area.

In the above embodiments, an HNB GW is set in the system, but somemessages exchanged between the HNB and the core network control planeentity may be sent directly to the control plane entity or HNB throughIP routing, or may be routed directly through the HNB GW. In this case,the HNB GW does not process the messages. In addition, in the LTEsystem, the HNB GW is optional, that is, the HNB GW may not exist; inthis case, the HNB and the core network control plane entity areconnected directly, and transmit and process various messages mutually.The specific flowchart is similar to those in the above embodiments. Inembodiments of the present invention, the method for setting up the IPaddress of the UE, user ID, user registration area information, and CSGlist information of the user in the HNB GW includes the following steps:

The HNB GW needs to perform NAT processing when routing data locally,and in this case, the mapping relationship between the user IP addressand the address and port of the HNB GW is recorded.

When establishing a user plane connection between the core networkcontrol plane entity and the HNB GW, the core network control planeentity receives the user ID, user registration area information (TAIlist), and CSG list information of the user. When the core networkcontrol plane entity triggers releasing of the link, the HNB GW storesthe above information of the user, or, when the core network controlplane entity triggers releasing of the link, the HNB GW keeps thesignaling link with the core network control plane entity, and releasesonly the link between the HNB GW and the HNB.

In addition, the above method is applicable to the case that the HNBcreates UE contexts. When the HNB activates local switching, the corenetwork control plane entity sends information such as the user ID tothe HNB GW, and the HNB GW sends the above information to the HNB. Theuser ID may be a permanent ID (IMSI) or a temporary ID (S-TMSI or GUTI).If the ID notified by the core network control plane entity to the HNBGW is an IMSI, the core network control plane entity may send theparameter when creating the S1 connection message of the user for thefirst time. If the ID notified to the HNB GW is an S-TMSI or a GUTI, themessage may carry the parameter every time, or the message may carry theparameter only when parameters are changed.

Those skilled in the art may understand that the methods in embodimentsof the present invention may also be used in the scenario of a macro NBdetermining the paging range, and may make various modifications andequivalent substitutions to some technical features of the presentinvention in the scenario of a macro NB.

By using the method, apparatus, and system for paging a UE according toembodiments of the present invention, a downlink data notificationmessage inclusive of paging indicator information is sent to the corenetwork control plane entity, so that the core network control planeentity can page the UE in a certain paging range. Therefore, systemresources are saved and system loads are reduced.

Part of the technical solution according to the embodiments of thepresent invention may be implemented by a program instructing relevanthardware. The program may be stored in a readable storage medium. Thestorage medium may be any medium capable of storing program codes, suchas a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magneticdisk, or a Compact Disk-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM).

Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are used only todescribe the technical solution of the present invention instead oflimiting the technical solution of the present invention. Although thepresent invention is described in detail with reference to the foregoingembodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand thatthey can still make modifications to the technical solution described inthe foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions to sometechnical features thereof, without departing from the spirit and scopeof the technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for paging a User Equipment (UE),the apparatus comprising: a processor and a computer-readable storagemedium coupled to the processor, the computer-readable storage mediumcomprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause theapparatus to: receive a downlink data notification message comprisingpaging indicator information; determine a paging range according to thepaging indicator information; and send a paging message comprising thepaging range determined to a NodeB.
 2. The apparatus according to claim1, wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: determinethat the paging range is the NodeB, if the downlink data is locallyrouted according to the paging indicator information, and determine thatthe paging range is a user registration area of the UE, if the downlinkdata comes from a core network according to the paging indicatorinformation.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pagingindicator information comprises: a bearer ID of a Packet Data Networkconnection corresponding to the downlink packet.
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the computer-readable storage mediumcomprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause theapparatus to: determine that the paging range is a user registrationarea of the UE, if no paging response of the UE is received within apreset period of time.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe paging indicator information comprises: a bearer ID of a Packet DataNetwork connection corresponding to the downlink packet.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a Mobility 7.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the NodeB is a Home NodeB.8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the downlink datanotification message is sent by a Serving Gateway.
 9. The apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein a function of the Serving Gateway isintegrated in the NodeB.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe paging indicator information comprises at least one of thefollowing: an Access Point Name of a Packet Data Network connectioncorresponding to the downlink packet; a service type of the downlinkpacket; and a Packet Data Network Gateway corresponding to the downlinkdata packet.
 11. A method for paging a User Equipment (UE), comprising:receiving, by a core network control plane entity, a downlink datanotification message comprising paging indicator information;determining, by the core network control plane entity, a paging rangeaccording to the paging indicator information; and sending, by the corenetwork control plane entity, a paging message comprising the pagingrange determined to a NodeB.
 12. The method according to claim 11,wherein the determining, by the core network control plane entity, apaging range according to the paging indicator information comprises:determining, by the core network control plane entity, that the pagingrange is the NodeB, if the downlink data is locally routed according tothe paging indicator information, and determining, by the core networkcontrol plane entity, that the paging range is a user registration areaof the UE, if the downlink data comes from a core network according tothe paging indicator information.
 13. The method according to claim 12,wherein the paging indicator information comprises: a bearer ID of aPacket Data Network connection corresponding to the downlink packet. 14.The method according to claim 11, wherein the determining, by the corenetwork control plane entity, a paging range according to the pagingindicator information comprises: determine, by the core network controlplane entity, that the paging range is a user registration area, if nopaging response of the UE is received within a preset period of time.15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the paging indicatorinformation comprises: a bearer ID of a Packet Data Network connectioncorresponding to the downlink packet.
 16. The method according to claim11, wherein the core network control plane entity is a MobilityManagement Entity.
 17. The method according to claim 11, wherein theNodeB is a Home NodeB.
 18. The method according to claim 11, wherein thedownlink data notification message is sent by a Serving Gateway.
 19. Themethod according to claim 18, wherein a function of the Serving Gatewayis integrated in the NodeB.
 20. The method according to claim 11,wherein the paging indicator information comprises at least one of thefollowing: an Access Point Name of a Packet Data Network connectioncorresponding to the downlink packet; a service type of the downlinkpacket; and a Packet Data Network Gateway corresponding to the downlinkdata packet.